|
 [Easter is a time for hats. With this in mind, Jennifer Wright has been busy making some for Ferrymead Heritage Park's Easter event. Nine of them in fact!]
When Mary Isabella Knox married Thomas Robert Horne in the St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Ashburton, on 26 February 1913, little did she realise that her simple Edwardian-style wedding dress, and a replica of her veil, would feature in a display at Ferrymead Heritage Park 97 years later.
Mary’s granddaughter, Jenifer Wright, is the Ferrymead Trust’s voluntary curator, an active member of the Friends of Ferrymead, and a milliner with a passion for Edwardian hats, clothing and drapery.
Jenifer started her career in dressmaking, joining Ballantynes in 1954. When the store offered her a millinery apprenticeship, she decided to try that and found she loved the work.
Over the years, she has built up a collection of replica Edwardian hats based on hats in old photographs, advertisements and drawings. The hats are characterised by large flowing feathers, big flowers and high-piled tulle.
Spurred by the idea of creating a display as part of the park’s Easter weekend event, Jenifer has finished nine replica Edwardian hats in the last fortnight! "They take about eight hours each to make, and have a straw base,” said Jenifer. “They are in authentic colours, mainly creams, whites and rose shades. The flowers on the hats are flowers that were used in Edwardian days, for example peony and old English roses.”
A feature of the display in the park’s General Store will be Jenifer’s grandmother’s wedding dress with its high neckline and paneled skirt, and a replica that Jenifer has made of her grandmother’s wedding veil. “Not many brides had veils in those days,” said Jenifer. “They usually wore a normal white hat with a veil attached.”
Jenifer Wright will be in the General Store for the four days of the park’s Easter Weekend event, to talk with visitors about her creations and sharing her knowledge of Edwardian clothing and accessories.
[Easter Family Fun is at Ferrymead Heritage Park from Friday 10 to Monday 13 April, 10 am to 4.30 pm. Edwardian and Easter hats, Easter tree, Easter eggs and nests, Edwardian Easter cards, Easter Bunny Trail, Easter games, Easter traditions display, Easter colouring-in activity, church services, organ recitals, competitions and prizes, magician, steam trains, electric and steam trams, and much more.]
|
